Russian Officials Raid Yukos Offices

A company spokeswoman tells VOA, officials Thursday searched an area where financial documents are stored.

The action comes as lawyers for Yukos are asking a U.S. court in Houston, Texas for an order blocking the planned auction of a major part of the company on Sunday.

The company says it would be seriously hurt by the forced sale of its main oil-producing subsidiary, Yuganskeneftegaz. Russian officials ordered the auction to raise money to pay billions of dollars in back taxes.

Critics of Russia's government say the tax dispute is retaliation for financial support the company's chairman Mikhail Khodorkovsky gave to political opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin.